Florida Workplace Harassment Lawyer
Harassment laws protect employees from being harassed by supervisors, fellow workers or even customers while at work. The Federal Civil Rights Act and Florida’s Civil Rights Act prohibit many types of discrimination in employment and housing. These same laws make sexual, racial and other types of harassment illegal in the workplace.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces federal employment discrimination laws. Harassment complaints have increased significantly in recent years. Between the years of 2018 and 2021, the EEOC received a total of 98,411 charges alleging harassment under any bases and 27,291 charges alleging sexual harassment. If you are an employee who is experiencing harassment in the workplace, or an employer who would like to know the responsibilities to your employees, the Florida workplace harassment lawyers at Scott Law Team can provide guidance, advice, and representation, if necessary.
Harassment Defined
The law defines harassment as unwelcome verbal, visual or physical conduct that is severe or pervasive and affects an employee’s working conditions or creates a hostile work environment. Other employees may also file claims if they witness someone being harassed in the workplace. Some examples of harassment may include:
- Racial slurs or name-calling
- Jokes others find offensive
- Put-downs
- Displaying offensive pictures or items
- Terrorizing or bullying behaviors
- Acts of intimidation
Generally, in order for a finding of harassment to be made, a clear pattern of continuing behavior must be shown to exist. A single instance of harassment does not generally provide enough evidence to prove a claim. Employees experiencing harassment should make notes regarding incidents of harassment. Contact our Florida employee harassment lawyers for more information.
Employers’ Responsibility in Preventing Harassment
The law expects an employer to take steps to prevent harassment in the workplace from occurring. When notifying an employer regarding harassment, employees should follow any workplace rules provided. Once an employer learns harassment may be happening in the workplace, they must take the proper steps to investigate the complaint and make a reasonable attempt to stop the harassment.
State and Federal Laws Protect Employees
Skilled harassment lawyers have intimate knowledge of employment law, and are able to offer advice to employers about how to resolve harassment complaints brought by employees. They can help develop a proactive approach to deal with harassment by creating a written policy that conforms to applicable state and federal laws. Harassment lawyers also provide guidance to employees who believe they are being harassed at work. Due to strict timelines and complex rules, contact our knowledgeable harassment lawyers for advice on your specific situation as quickly as possible. Contact our Florida workplace harassment lawyers today.
